Review Of NPY And NPY Receptor For Obesity

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity continues to increase throughout the world and the burden of obesity and related co morbidities is large. However existing drug therapies for obesity are limited and agents with high efficacy, safety and tolerability are expected to meet patient needs and lead to more substantial commercial success. Contemporary consideration has focused on physiology of neuropeptides Y (NPY) and its role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. NPY stimulates food intake, inhibits energy expenditure, and increases body weight and increases anabolic hormone level by activating the NPY Y1 and Y5 receptors in the hypothalamus. Based on these findings, several NPY Y1 and Y5 receptor antagonists have been developed in last two decade as potential anti-obesity agents and transgenic mice model lacking NPY, the NPY Y1 receptor or the NPY Y5 receptor have been generated. The data obtained to date with these newly developed tools suggests that NPY receptor antagonists, particularly NPY Y1 and Y5 receptor antagonist, have potentiality to bless the obesity patients worldwide. However, the redundancy of the neurochemical systems regulating energy homeostasis may limit the effect of ablating a single pathway. In addition, patients in whom the starvation response is activated, such as formerly obese patients who have lost weight or patients with complete or partial leptin deficiency, may be the best candidates for treatment with a NPY receptor antagonist. New leads are under research by major pharmaceutical companies to limit the side effects and explore the area to meet clinical requirement.